The Franklin's Tale
Folio 160v
4 of 24 folios
A ȝeer and more lasted þis blisful lijf
Til þat þis knigħt of which I spak of þus
100
Þat of kynrede was cleped arueragus
Schope him to gon and dwelle a ȝeer or tweyne
In engelond þat cleped eek was bretayne
To seche in armes worschipe and eek honor
For aƚƚ his lust he sette in such labour
105
And dwelleþ þere þe book saiþ þus
Now wol I stynte of þis arueragus
And speken I wole of dorygen his wijf
Þat loueþ hir housbonde as hire hertes lyf
And for his absens wepeþ sche and sikeþ /
110
As don þese noble wyues when hem likeþ
Sche mourneþ wakeþ wayleþ fasteþ & pleyneþ
Desire of his persence hire so destreyneþ
That aƚƚ þis wyde world sche sette at nouȝt
Hire freendes which þat knewe hire heuy þouȝt
115
Conforted hire in al þat euer þey mighte or may
They prechen hire þay tellen hire nigħt and day
Þat causeles sche sleeþ hire self allas /
And euery confort possible in þis cas
Þey don to hire wiþ aƚƚ here busynes /
120
And aƚƚ to make hire lete hir heuynes
By processe as ȝe knowe wel euerychon
Men may so longe grauen in þe ston
Til som figure þerinne enprentyd be
So longe han þey conforted hire þat sche
125
Receyued haþ by hope and by resoū
The empryntyng of hir constillacioū
Thurgh which hire grete sorwe gan aswage /
Sche may nougħt alway endure in such a rage /
And eek arueragus in al þis care
130
Haþ sent his ƚres home in al þis fare
And þat he wolde come hastly aȝayn
Oþer hadde þis sorwe hire herte slayn
Hire frendes sawe hire herte gan to slake /